Nursing Home Care

In Illinois, nursing homes, sometimes known as long-term care facilities, skilled care facilities, or intermediate care facilities are licensed, regulated, and inspected by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Illinois has approximately 1,200 long-term care facilities serving more than 100,000 residents, from the young to older adults. IDPH also assists the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with certifying these facilities for participation in federal payment reimbursement programs such as Medicare.

Please note: The Illinois Department on Aging does not license, regulate or investigate complaints against nursing homes; these responsibilities fall under IDPH. We also do not help individuals choose a facility. However, we do offer support in the following areas:

• Choices for Care Program that includes the Determinations of Need (DON) assessments for individuals applying for long-term care services, including nursing home care and home and community-based services.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program which advocates for residents’ rights and quality of care in nursing homes and other licensed facilities.
• If you're considering nursing home placement for yourself or a loved one, these programs may provide helpful support during the transition.
   

Making the decision to move into a nursing home can be difficult for individuals and families. The following resources provide insight into determining the right time and the right place:

• IDPH – How to Select a Nursing Home
• National Institute on Aging – How to Choose a Nursing Home or Other Long-Term Care Facility
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – Your Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home
• Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman – Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility

In addition to touring nursing homes, there are online tools available to help compare the quality of care and staffing levels of nursing homes.

• Medicare.gov: Find and compare Medicare-certified nursing homes based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.
• Illinois Department of Public Health: IDPH is charged with regularly inspecting nursing homes in Illinois and responding to complaints. Quarterly reports of nursing home violations are available here. 

Care in a nursing home can be paid for through public and private programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, life insurance, and personal funds.

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• A combination of sources

Nursing home residents are guaranteed certain rights, protections, and privileges according to Illinois and Federal law. The following brochures detail those rights and explain where to turn if rights are violated.
English, Chinese, German, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is charged with overseeing nursing homes and responding to complaints.  Visit their website to file a complaint online.

The Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) is a resident-directed advocacy program which protects and improves the quality of life for residents in a variety of long-term care settings. Ombudsmen work to resolve problems of individual residents and to bring about changes at the local, state, and national levels to improve care. For assistance, contact the IDoA Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (TRS 711) or via email at aging.sltcoprogram@illinois.gov, or contact the Regional Ombudsman in your area.